The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-04-27
SAN JhCJNTO.
Anniversary of the Battle That Freed
Texas from Mexico.
From the Philadelphia Timcs)

Anniversary of the Baltic That Freed
Texas from Mexico.
(From the Philadelphia Timcs)
There occurs this week the anniversa
ry Of one of tho most interesting anC
eyentful battles in American history
though one but little remembered. ii
is an anniversary that recalls tho strug
gle of races of which the Southern Dor.
ton OF this continent was the scene from
the days of Christopher Columbus, down
to on, own time. Spanish settlements
were m"do IN ToXas as early us 1892.
these, however, were merely trading es-
adjustments. Texas was formerly
claimed by both Spain and the United
states, and became the subject of lone
negotiation, between the two govern
mcnts which resulted in rclinquish-
mcnt ON the part of tho United States to
the territory in question. President
Jackson malo an attempt to purchase
Texas from Mexico, but failed. The
proposition OF Jackson to purchase was
opposed by many of our citizens, who
viewed further extension of territory
as dangerous to the integrity of the
Union. Texas had rather been curse
than blessing to any of its numerous
claimants, being first wrcstcd from the
natives by Spain, and regained by the
McXicOnS
In the year 1921 Stephen T. Austin, a
native OF the State Of Connecticut, ap-
pcarcd on t}raZos river in Texas to fulfill
and ont contract of his father, who
mad obtained grant for largo body of
land which he was to cOlouiXc. Mr..
Austin planted his first colony on the
br&HoS aver, and being man of I'M
common fidelity and enterprise, his in
tcrcourSc with the Mexican government
beng marked with rigid compliance
with ms engagement, for number of
years he had the Unlimited confidence
OF the officers OF the government, from
whom lie could receive any favors, and
IN return received the unlimited conf
dcncc OF his colOnistS, and Texas was
fast becoming valuable domain. The
'oIonlsts, with the intelligence, energy
and thrift so characteristic OF their race
were making rapid advances in wealth
and comfort, but o crisis arrived, and
war with all its fury and horrors com
mouccd
San Antonio and Golaid were in the
possession of the Texan troops, and
large Mexican force had been ordered to
operate against them. On the DIST of
February, 1896, the Mexican Generals
Scssma, Filasola and Cos were ordered
to head one division Of the Mexican
army on San Antonio, Generals Unca
and Garory second division against
Golaid, and Il third division, command
cd by Santa Anna in person, was to
move as circumstances might require.
Tho first division of the McXicnn army
appeared before San Antonio on the
22nd OF February, and of the progress
OF the siege OF the Alamo Colonel
Iroycrs' last letter was on the 3d of
March. He says 81 am bcsicrcd by
thousands of Mexicans and with 10 men
! have defended the Alamo for ten days
against force of 5000, and unless get
relief ] will perish in its defense.
Colonel Travcrs and his gallant band did
perish, rs they fell to man Their
lives, however were dearly sold, and the
victory gained over them was little bet
Ter than defeat.
THE SAN JACINTo
Santa Anna, flushed V it'll his ill-gottcn
success believed that Texas was in his
grasp, and with his remaining force adj
yanced upon Houston's small force on
the Colorado river. Houston fell back
to the Brazos river and from that stream
rctrcatcd to the San Jacinto river. He
was unwilling to hazard battle 80 long
rs hopes were entertained of gaining any
advantage by retrcating. He intended
rctrcatlng to NacodochcS, where he
knew Of rcinforccments, and it was not
until after loud complaints from every
quarter he decided to stake his rcputa-
ton and the fortunes of Texas on one
decisive effort
lie was commanding n most dctcrm-
med set OF men who ycarncd to rctaIiatc
for the shameful butchcry OF their
friends at the Alamo and GoIaid. An
hour before sunset on the Dist Of April,
1896, Houston, with 1873 men all told,
attacked Santa Anna with 800 men,
advancing with the war cry, "Remembcr
the Alamo" The Texans advanced re-
ceiving the MeXicans' fire to within
point blank shot before they fired gun
In less than two honrs vanquishcd foe
lay bleeding on the battle plain a few
unsklllcd men were victors over nearly
double their number of well skilled sol
dlers, who were sur'citcd with treasure
and human blood, and their proud and
naughty chief prisoner, begging for
quarter and mercy, both OF which were
foreign To his own heart and his own
mode OF warfare. Santa Anna, the cap.
tured, was heartiess demon The
world, i'll all its round of brutality, had
no other sight so bloody and brutal as
the slaughter of Colonel Fannin's band
Mt Goliad. Some faint excuse might be
given for the savagery at Alamo while
the blood was hot, but the savagery at
Goliad has all the horrors of cold, calcu-
lating, pitilcss butchery.
RESULTS or THE VICTORY.
The victory at San Jacinto is truly
one of the most splendid of modern or
ancient times, and well deserves to be
ranked among the decisive battles of the
world. Its results are wonderful 1t
established the Independence of Texas;
the establishing OF it into republic; the
annexation of it into the American
union; war with Mexico, tho conso-
quence of which was the acquisition of